30 Years at the IPC

In the mid-1990s, as the young Irish immigrants of the 1980s matured and started families, a need for a peer support network for parents alongside a social space for children was recognized. ‘Playspace’, a joint initiative by the IPC and the Irish American Family association, was initiated in January 1996 as a response to this need. Over the last twenty years, the play-space has been one of the most active and consistent programs linked with the Irish Pastoral Centre.

The Irish American Family Association, a collective of young Irish immigrants seeking to support Irish families in Boston, was sponsored at the time by the Irish Pastoral Centre, operating out of the IPC office at St. Mark’s in Dorchester. The IAFA, with the support of Fr. Tim O’Sullivan, started Playspace, initially out of the Neponset Health Center, in January 1996 with a simple goal: to be a meeting place for mothers, fathers, caregivers and children. In a very short time the play-space became so much more than just a meeting place, it became an informal, community led, information and support network for Irish families in the Boston area.

The IAFA became very active in the late 90s through the 00s, organizing camps and sports days for the play-group participants in the summer months. While the IAFA no longer exists formally, the playgroup has been maintained with the support of the IPC under the leadership of former Executive Director, Sr. Marguerite Kelly. Speaking recently with Rita O’Leary-Stones and Margaret O’Donovan, both past coordinators of the playgroup, it was revealed that the relationships and networks formed within the play-space are maintained long after young children graduate as they get older. Of the IPC play-space, and the IAFA network, Margaret O’Donovan states that it was like “family not related by blood”, that supported young Irish families thousands of miles away from home, and their own family.

The IPC playgroup continues today at St. Mark’s Parish Hall, where it has been located since 1997 with the help of Fr. Dan Finn. Ashley Poles, current coordinator of the group, advises that there are in the region of twenty families who participate regularly at the Wednesday morning playgroup. While initiated as a support group for Irish families, the invitation extends far wider now to serve as a resource for all members of our local community.